Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-06-10
PATRONS OF HUsBANDRY
MoRTIMERi WHITEHEAD.

almost entirely in the hands of others.
But since the coming of the Grange
farmers are coming to learn that ii is
just us much part of their business to
sell crop as it is to raise it. ITO cal
culate intelligently upon probabilities"
and "To open out the channels In
natures great arteries that the life blood
OF commerce may flow freely" are part
of the Grange Declaration OF Pur-
poses" Much has been done by local
and State Oranges i'm thu matter OF local
markets and business at great CONNER
cial centres, and the National Grange,
representing as it does the farmers OF
the whole country, has for several years
carefully discussed the reports of its
Committee upon Transportation and
Commercial Relations.
At the last session Of the National
Grange at Philadelphia, November,
1886, the Committee on Transportation
and Commercial Relations, through its
chairman, Leonard Rhone. of Pennsyl-
vania, offered as part of their report,
which was adopted, the following:
"Tke importance of our Commercial
Relations cannot be overestmated, nor
Can the duty of Congressional supervis'
ion over tho commercial interests of the
United States be questioned.
with our vast area of cultivated and
uncultivated lands and improved ma
chinery, our possibilities of production
are practically unlimited. 1t has been
proven, however, that unlimited pro-
duction is not, necessarily, prosperity.
Hence it is of equal Importance that the
same care should be exercised in secur-
ing the profitable distribution of pro-
ducts as obtains in their production.
"Our country, with her production OF
45O, 900, 900 bushels of wheat without
market, is not so prosperous as she has
been with crop Of 800, 100000 with
market. The question arises: What
are our farmers to do with their surplus
of lOO, 900, 900 bushels? And, indeed,
with the many other products of which
we have surplus, and for which we
have no market ut home? Are we 10
90 on blindly, in unlimited production,
without reward, or can we, by intelli-
gent and unbiased Investigation, discov-
er and establish policy sufficiently lib
eral 20 enable the American farmer to
dispose of his surplus products, for
which there is demand abroad and
none at home? That the present policy
of the United States Government is hos
tile to American agriculture is fully evil
denced by the unfriendly attitude of the
great nations of the world in their COM
mercial intercourse with us. We see
remote parts of the world, although only
experimenting, as it were, in certain
lines of agriculture, slowly but surely
driving US from our long established
markets, while other States have closed
their ports against some OF our most val
liable products.
"May we not, however, appeal to
every member Of our Order to cast aside
every prejudice and examine the ques-
ton from purely agricultural stand
point? Although class in its character
it is yet in harmony in its results with
the fundamental doctrines of the Grange
-"The greatest good to the greatest
number and, consequently, to the
majority of the people of our country.
The National Government has done
comparatively nothing for our great in
dustry in production, and less, if posi-
BILE, in distribution.
"Therefore, be it
"Resolred, That the National Grange,
through its Legislative committee appear
before Congress and urge an intelligent
revision of all laws touching our COM
mercial relations, and thus secure to the
| American farmer an outlet for his sur
plus products
1.-THE farmer is the only true conser-
vative in any community. His interests
are indissolubly connected with the soil
which he tills. Through all changes of
Government his lands remain. The
capitalist, with his stocks and his bonds,
has no such interest in the perpetuity
and integrity of good government as
have the agriculturists. He can trans
fer the contents of his vaults and money
chests from continent to continent in
ten days notice. If revolution and
anarchy impends, he discerns the COM
ing storm and transports his movables
to happier shores. But the barns and
granaries, the flocks and herds and lands
of the husbandman cannot so be con-
verted and transferred. These remain
to be burned and plundered and despoil-
ed. Hence the farmer has stake in the
existence of civil government which the
mere capitalist and broker has not.
And il there be one debt, one obliga-
ton, which you owe greater than all
others, paramount to all others, it is
that you educate your sons to maintain
and conserve and transmit the institu-
tons which you have inherited, the
wealth which you have created. the
heritage of freedom which you have."-
President Patteron Of Kentucky.
In many Oranges it has grown to be
a regular annual custom to have in
June, "Pleasantest month of all the
year," floral meeting. Flora being
the presiding officer, an exhibition of
flowers held, hall, grounds and tables